Page 9 - 2017 JUL -DEC KAAKBAY

9July to December
2017

New York Community Takes Part in Liter of Light’s Marawi Project

Filipino Community members joined the Liter of Light
Team in making sustainable lanterns for the use of displaced

Marawi residents on 09 December 2017 at the Philippine
Center in New York.

Dubbed “Lights for Marawi”, the project has taken the

Liter of Light Team, a foundation which promotes sustainable
and easy to assemble lighting implements, to different parts of
the globe to raise awareness for light sustainability and needs
of different communities. The Lights for Marawi Project has
been undertaken in both the US East and West Coasts.

According to Team Leader Illac Diaz, a TOYM Illac Diaz (3rd from left, 2nd row) Team Leader of Liter of Light with Consul General
awardee, social entrepreneur, and sustainable development Theresa Dizon-de Vega (4th from left, 1st row), Vice Consul Khrystina Corpuz (3rd
advocate, the Lights for Marawi project aims to provide from left, 1st row) with community volunteers showing off some of the finished
sustainable lighting in the form of re-purposed kerosene lamps lamps for Marawi (photos by NYPCG)

now battery-powered for the use of displaced residents of

Marawi City. The lamps are especially suited for use in relocation camps and other temporary lodgings as they are safe,

inexpensive and easy to assemble. Mr. Diaz spoke about the project at the Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado on 9 December 2017.

Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega encouraged Filipinos overseas, particularly in the US Northeast to take part
in the project.

Filipino Community member Potri Ranka Manis,
whose organization Kinding Sindaw promotes the arts and
traditions of Mindanao, welcomed the initiative and expressed
full support for the advocacy of Liter of Light. Other community
members from the Mindanao State University (MSU) Alumni
Association, the Association of Filipino Teachers in America
(AFTA), and San Beda Alumni Association, among others took
part in the workshop.

Liter of Light is likewise slated to take part in a major
Some of the lights made during the light installation in New York’s Central Park for the
Illac Diaz and his team conduct the light- workshop are displayed at the
making workshop. lobby of the Philippine Center. International Day of Light in 2018.

Next Generation Fil-Ams introduced to the Philippine Center in New York

Fifteen young Fil-Ams ranging in age from 4 years old to
early teens had an interactive session with the Philippine
Consulate General at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in
New York.

The children, hailing mostly from Toms River, New Jersey,
also visited the Philippine Center and had interactive sessions with
Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Philippine Center
Manager Consul Arman Talbo, and Mr. Angelito Nayan of the
Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York.

The children learned more about the history of the

Philippine Center and what activities are held there throughout the

year while Consul General De Vega invited them to attend the

Paaralan sa Konsulado in 2018 and the Kuwentong Pambata

Consul General De Vega in center joins the FACES students, parents, and (Children’s Storytime) activity on 26 August in observance of
Buwan ng Wika (National Language Month).
teachers at the PH Center Lobby (photo by NYPCG)
(Continue to page 10)